Friday, August 22, 2008
You may have noticed the olympics. Hard not to, eh? (Yes we vacationed in Canada.)
Whether you are a bleary-eyed die-hard fan or someone with very little interest in them - like, say, me - you have seen some, been caught up in the drama, even been awed by the amazing abilities of the athletes. I have watched some of the events and thought to myself, far more often than when watching a magician, “How do they do that?” Of course I know a major part of the answer to that is years of disciplined training and practice. They have all made sacrifices for the sake of working toward a goal. I have been most impressed with those who speak of their goals not in purely personal ways but in terms of the team and even the country. Inspiring to hear that the sacrifice was about something bigger than personal satisfaction or a contract with Wheaties.
A few weeks ago we went from Peter’s great confession to Peter’s grievous objection. He was blessed by the knowledge that Jesus was the Messiah but not at all pleased to hear what that meant in terms of suffering and sacrifice toward a great goal. But Jesus not only spoke of his own path but also ours as he calls each one to take up his cross and follow him. What does that mean? I just read last night of a school in our area training people for ministry. The article mentioned that students were required to live a biblical lifestyle and the examples they gave were that men must have short hair and long pants and women can’t wear make-up and must wear skirts or dresses. Not sure what translation they’re working from but I am sure Jesus is calling us to something deeper than a fashion statement. But what? We will try to work that out Sunday morning.
Sunday evening missionary to India Phil Fiol and his family will be visiting and presenting an update on the work there.
I can not tell you how moved, pleased, and honored I am by the unanimous vote by the New Hope folks last week about moving ahead with the merger. A tremendous help and affirmation. This week COPC will meet after the morning worship for the purpose of taking a second vote on leaving the OP in order to affiliate with the PCA to facilitate the merger. There have been some questions about this meeting. The OPC Book of Order requires a second vote in order to leave. This meeting is not directly about the merger; that issue was discussed and voted on affirmatively in our last meeting. This meeting is only to ratify the vote to leave the denomination as the next step toward doing what we have already voted to do. The Presbytery will again be represented and will speak to us. Also OPC Regional Home Missionary Larry Oldaker will be there to begin discussions with any who want to remain in the OPC and are interested in beginning a new OPC mission work. We don’t know for certain that there are such people or how many there may be, but in any event an affirmative vote this week opens the way for all of us to move forward as we see our Lord’s leading.
Summer is winding down, schools have started or will soon, plans for Fall are well under way - Sunday school, youth groups, home groups, and more. Many opportunities for service and growth but it all begins with the Word and worship. Sunday at 10:45 and 5:30. See you there.
Jack
Friday, August 8, 2008
We probably all know some good news/bad news jokes. Lawyer to client, “I have some good news and some bad news.” “Please give me the bad news first.” “Well, DNA testing has proven beyond a doubt that it was your blood found at the crime scene.” Client asks, “Then what’s the good news?” Lawyer answers, “Your cholesterol is way down.”
The section of Matthew’s gospel we are looking at is, of course, far more serious but plays out almost like one of those jokes. Peter had “gotten” the good news. He knew and confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus had then declared him blessed and called him the rock. In the next paragraph, most likely a very short time later, Peter actually rebukes Jesus and in turn is referred to as “Satan”! What changed things so dramatically and so quickly? Peter understood that Jesus was the Messiah. But he didn’t understand what that really meant for Jesus or for himself. Many still don’t. Many see Jesus as the ticket to a stress-free, debt-free, conflict-free life. But Jesus talked about taking up the cross. We’ll think about that Sunday morning.
Last Sunday evening the elders gave me a night off. It was very helpful and much appreciated. So, Lord willing, this week we will get to Paul’s discussion of the offering for the poor in Jerusalem.
I will be taking a vacation week from as soon as I can get everything (or most) of what I need to get done this coming week, continuing over the weekend and it is looking like back for a meeting Tuesday night and back to “real life” Wednesday. So, no “Friday email” next week unless somebody else decides to send one.
At the congregational meeting last Sunday the congregation voted to move forward with the merger with New Hope and to leave the OPC to affiliate with the PCA to make that happen. We must have a second vote to ratify the decision to leave the OPC. The session is calling a meeting for Sunday, August 24 after morning worship at New Hope for the purpose of that second vote. One of the things I want to do before vacation is to get a letter out to all COPC members with some explanation of the process from here as best we see it and also to explain membership options for those who, to our deep regret, just cannot seem to see their way clear to stay with us in this.
Many of you have been praying for and asking about my mother. She is home from the hospital and getting a bit better every day. Yesterday she seemed a bit weaker than before, but otherwise pretty much like before her hospitalization. My brother and sister in law are spending a good bit of time with her, I have been down more briefly but at least once each day, and she has a visiting nurse and therapist coming several times a week. Thanks so much for your prayers and concern.
Let’s just fit everything in one email. Monday I had the honor of leading the funeral service for Carol Brickner. Please continue to pray for her family, especially her children and grandchildren and her mother. Also, it looks like a beautiful day for Erin Bovard and Dan Faith who will be getting married just a few hours from now. Please pray for them and the other newlyweds of our congregations. (So looking forward to leaving off that “s”).
I really enjoyed the last VBS evening. What a joy seeing God’s people from the two congregations enjoying what our Lord has done and given and together welcoming visitors. Other than maybe the ice cream and pie, we have the opportunity to do those things again as we worship Sunday at 10:45 and 5:30. Hope to see you there.
Jack
Friday, August 1, 2008
Though she is still around, the Irish singer Sinead O’Connor very nearly destroyed her career in 1992 when she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live. Two weeks later she was booed off the stage of Madison Square Garden where she was to perform in a tribute to Bob Dylan. You might expect that reaction at a Knights of Columbus meeting, but a rock concert? It seems the regard for the pope ran much deeper than she had figured. Widely respected by non-Catholics, the pope is regarded by Roman Catholics as the Vicar (Representative) of Christ, the Pontiff (Bridge Builder between earth and heaven), and the direct successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Peter. Though Roman theology is not strictly dependent on the Scriptures, they believe they have a pretty good proof text for this in Matthew 16.
Of course Martin Luther didn’t think so. Neither did John Calvin. Neither did most people in the early church or anyone later influenced by the Protestant Reformation. But then, what did Jesus mean when he called Peter the Rock and said he would build his church on that rock and give him the keys of the Kingdom? There are several ways of thinking about this that we will explore briefly Sunday morning. We will try to do that without losing sight of the important question Jesus asked that led to all this, “Who do you say that I am?”. Who we believe he is determines who we are and the rest of the passage speaks of who we are together as the church. Understanding that should lead us nicely to the Lord’s Table.
After the service there will be, Lord willing, a COPC congregational meeting. I trust we are all in prayer for our Lord’s grace, leading, and blessing for this very important meeting.
We will be gathering again for evening worship. We will again be thinking about the nature of the Church. In 2 Cor. 8 and 9 Paul talks about an offering for the poor, but we will also see how, as usual, he talks about far more than that - matters of grace and unity and love.
This promises to be an unusually challenging and emotional Lord’s Day. How wonderful that we have a God who hears us as we pray and always welcomes us into his presence for worship. Whatever the challenges, as we meet in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ there will be blessings!
Jack
Friday, July 25, 2008
My father used to make his own beer. Went I went grocery shopping with my mother more often than not we went to an A&P because they were about the only store that carried the big cans of beer malt he used. I was always fascinated by the process. As I remember it was little more than filling some large crockery barrels with water and dumping in the cans of malt. Then the magic came by adding yeast and covering. He threw in some sugar before bottling but I knew it was the yeast that really made it all happen. I know now that what happened is that the yeast went to work on eating up the sugar and producing alcohol and carbon dioxide. No yeast and you had sweet smelling, nasty tasting water. With yeast you eventually had nasty tasting beer.
Jesus warned his disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They really didn’t know what he was talking about. He explained a bit and it became clear. Well, sort of. I think they understood that there was something dangerous that you could pick up from people like the Pharisees that would grow and spread until you were changed from one thing into another. They surely understood that what you were changed into was not good and that the change could start out very small. As we read Matthew and Luke and Mark there seems to be some difference of opinion as to just what the yeast was. Maybe there are several strains of dangerous yeast? We’ll think about that some on Sunday morning. You may not know any card carrying Pharisees or Saducees, but the yeast of these is still very much with us. And still dangerous.
Sunday evening the service is not at the church building but the church will be gathering at the Agate farm. We’ll have food and fellowship (actually not the same thing), hear reports from some of our short term missionaries, sing praises to our God and Savior and hear his Word. Last time in this location as the Agates are doing Green Acres in reverse and moving to Monroeville.
Etta James (and a lot of other people) sang “Something Got a Hold On Me”. The something she sang about was love. If it is Jesus’ love it doesn’t let you go. More powerful and life changing than the yeast of the Pharisees. Worship helps us know it and grow in our response. See you this week?
Jack
Friday, July 18, 2008
I need to begin this week’s email in rather a different way. Someone pointed out to me that my choice of an illustration in last week’s email was insensitive. They did it in rather an insensitive way, but I believe their main point was essentially correct. Bigots fall into the biblical category of the fool, and it is healthy and biblical to point out the folly of fools. Still we must do it being careful not to be offensive ourselves or to make people as uncomfortable as bigots do. I failed to exercise proper caution and sensitivity. I am deeply and genuinely sorry. This general apology is the best I can do unless some (or all) of you let me know you were personally offended. Then I would welcome the opportunity to apologize personally and seek your forgiveness.
This week’s journey into Matthew’s gospel may look like deja vu to those who have been with us through the series. You may read the account of Jesus feeding thousands of people and think, “Didn’t we just do this one chapter back?” Well, remember a wise man once said “Deja vu is not what it used to be.” We all know people who tell us the same story over and over again. Matthew is not one of them. There are many similarities but the differences are critical. In fact, the second miraculous feeding is a continuation of the lesson Jesus was teaching the disciples in his dealing with the Canaanite women we looked at last week.
In the evening service we will find Paul struggling with being down and praising God for helping him get back up. He also teaches the Corinthians (and us) a very important distinction between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Though they can look very much the same they differ in both cause and effect. Good to know the difference. Sorrow is not just sorrow and can be harmful or, when it is godly, actually helpful.
Don’t be sorry in either way that you missed worship this week! Services at New Hope at 10:45 and 5:30. Come early and stay late. See you there.
Jack
Friday, July 11, 2008
Connie and I used to go out from time to time with a large dinner group. There were several real “characters” in the group and one is particular delighted in being provocative. This could be amusing, especially when he was provoking someone else, or it could make everybody uncomfortable.
I imagine we all know someone like this or at least people who can be this way sometimes. People who make us uncomfortable by the way they treat or refer to others. If you are now forming a short list in your mind, I am wondering if Jesus is on it. What?! you ask, no doubt shocked at the mere suggestion. Am I thinking of his calling the religious leaders “hypocrites” or “blind guides” or even “painted tombs”? No. I’m thinking about when a Canaanite woman, desperately seeking help for her daughter came to him and he seemed first to ignore her, then to reject her, and then to call her a dog. Would you have been uncomfortable with that? Are you now? Many people are. I think that is quite understandable. I also think it is wrong. Figuring out why we shouldn’t be offended by Jesus is not so hard, but figuring out how not to be, in this case, is. We will be trying to do that Sunday morning as well as trying to learn something from a woman who had enormous faith and from Jesus.
Later in the day we come to a passage at the end of 2 Cor. 6 that just doesn’t seem to fit in the immediate or broader context. This “don’t be unequally yoked” passage has been used for everything from discouraging mixed marriages to avoiding anyone who, oh say, smokes. Some just ignore it altogether. Usually the truth is somewhere between the extremes. We’ll go looking for it Sunday evening.
Worship, or at least some parts of it, can make people uncomfortable. But it is not really about being comfortable. It is about loving and serving God and loving and serving one another. Opportunities abound! Opportunities this Sunday at 10:45 and 5:30 at New Hope.
See you there?
Jack
Sunday, July 6, 2008
The potato chip. Nature’s most nearly perfect food. OK, maybe not but oh so very good. Of course we are told, often in quite stern voices, that they are very bad for us. I still love ‘em. It seems these days that a lot of things that taste great are on the verge of being forbidden. Our society, or at least large parts of it, are moving in two directions I find alarming. One is this move toward new dietary laws. They are pursued by some with a religious zeal that would do a Pharisee proud, although the god served is Good Health. The other is the disregard for language. In marking the passing of George Carlin nearly every story I heard or article I saw mentioned his “Seven Words You Can’t Say on Television”. The bit really isn’t that old and yet, in the age of satellite and cable, seems so antiquated and passé. There are no words you cannot say on cable and fewer and fewer that cannot be uttered on broadcast TV.
Both of these trends run exactly counter to what Jesus taught. He said it really didn’t matter what went into you and it really does matter what comes out. Certainly Christians may say, for reasons of preserving a healthy heart, voluntarily submit to a restrictive diet. But what our Lord is far more concerned with is a healthy heart in the biblical sense. How do we know the condition of our heart? He gives us a great diagnostic tool in the section of Matthew’s Gospel we will be looking at Sunday morning. If you are keeping up with Jeff’s blog from Ireland (http://jromissions.blogspot.com) you will have a good head start on thinking about this.
Sunday evening we will look at the difficulties and trials Paul faced and the attitudes and results of them. Inspired writing and inspiring reading!
Don’t know when you may read this but I’m writing it on the 4th of July. The 232nd anniversary of our independence. They day we celebrate freedom. As Christians we especially celebrate and thank God for the freedom to worship him openly, publicly. We’ll be doing that at New Hope Sunday at 10:45 and 5:30. Hope you can be there.
Jack
Sunday, April 13, 2008
If you hear a news story and they mention a “Good Samaritan”, everybody knows what they mean. This is just one of the many biblical words and phrases that have passed into our common language. Studies show that fewer and fewer people actually know the story of the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son, but certainly many more are familiar with them than other teaching of Jesus. People, after all, do like stories From childhood to old age people are far more likely to say “Tell me a story” than “Teach me some doctrine”. So Jesus told stories. Stories that taught doctrine and ethics and revealed sin and grace.
The section of Matthew’s Gospel we are moving into now is a section often referred to as “Parables of the Kingdom”. We often pray, “Thy Kingdom come”. But, what do we mean by that? What is God’s Kingdom? Jesus explains it by telling some stories. The first one starts, “The sower went out to sow…”. We’ll explore that one together this week.
For the last several Sunday evenings we have been observing the tense, damaged relationship of Paul and the Corinthians. This week we continue listening in as he explains why he changed his plans, but are really hearing him trying to make corrections in their thinking and behavior while at the same time working not to cause further damage their relationship. Surely only grace can find that delicate balance. We’ll see if we can glean some tips from Paul as we pray for grace from God.
I took my mother to see the New Hope building yesterday. She was having trouble imagining where it was. She said she was sure she could tell others how to get there now. Not bad for a woman with advanced macular degeneration. Hope you all can see your way clear to join us there as we worship our wonderful Savior.
Jack
Sunday, April 6, 2008
As is usually the case I am waaay late in leaving for presbytery so this week’s little missive has to be, well, little. Big morning service this week. Our band steps into the service for the first time and we will be observing both sacraments. Nolan Haris will be baptized and we will have Communion after the sermon. Appropriately, I think, we will continue in Matthew and look at the ultimate futility and even danger of self-help programs and then the wonderful alternative of being part of the family of God.
In the evening service we will see Paul begining to deal with an accusation that he is not reliable and then moving quickly to discussing the God and Gospel that are altogether reliable.
I am hearing from the weather reports that it should be a beautiful day Sunday. Prayer, the Word, Sacraments, Christian fellowship…what other kind of day could it be?
See ya then.
Jack
Sunday, March 30, 2008
My fun fact calendar tells me today that Hippocrates believed that astrology and birth sign affected one’s physical health. Many Greeks believed in those kinds of signs. Most Jews did not. The knew star gazing was Pagan, Babylonian, to be shunned. And yet Matthew tells of “wise men” from the East who read the signs and came looking for Jesus. Jesus later provided very different kinds of signs for all to see. Many saw and were amazed but not changed. Some saw and listened, even followed. The Pharisees heard and saw and yet convinced themselves all the more that these signs could not signify that Jesus was actually from God. As we get back to Matthew’s Gospel this week we see them asking him for another sign. He told them all they would get would be the sign of Jonah. What was that? Did they see it? Did they understand it? Do we?
In the evening we are getting back to 2 Corinthians. This is just the second sermon from that book. In the first we talked about how Paul viewed comfort. Next, he gives an example of how he came to understand it. In one of the darkest and most difficult times of his life, he found new insight into the real strength of God and the power of prayer. A most encouraging text.
Sunday School classes will be meeting this week. We agreed among the elders to have only one adult class and New Hope will be suspending their series for a few weeks while I finish the book we have been using on 1 Kings. We are on ch 25, considering only the last few verses of 1 Kings 19.
Please remember the schedule as we continue to meet with New Hope. Sunday School is at 9:30. Morning worship is at 10:45 and evening worship will be now at 5:30. There are no youth groups meeting this week but they have been meeting at 6:00. So, we bumped the evening service up a half hour and they agreed to move the youth activities back a half an hour. We didn’t think having them at the same time was a good idea.
So you all know what to expect in worship this week. We will open with a call to worship from the Book of Revelation that we have used several times before. We will move from declaring God’s greatness in that reading to singing his praise led by the New Hope band we heard last week. Following that there will be a time of sharing praise and prayer requests (as we usually do in the evening except they use microphones so we can hear one another). Either Rick Schroeder or I will then lead in prayer. We will then sing a hymn which leads us into the Word section of the service. Here we will hear the Word read from the Old and New Testaments, we will sing the Word (Psalm 69), and hear the Word proclaimed in the sermon. After the sermon we will respond to God’s Word by singing the Doxology, giving tithes and offerings (during which there will be a soloist), singing another hymn and then receiving God’s benediction.
A reminder for those who were not there last week or visitors coming, there are directions to the church building on the New Hope web site It is not difficult to find and when you get close there are, well, signs.
See you Sunday.
Jack
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